My bowel ­habits became irregular. I was on the toilet a lot more – my wife joked that it was costing us a fortune in toilet rolls!

Kevin Sheedy

No opposing defender was too strong for him as he plundered 77 goals in 314 games during a decade of success with the ­Merseysiders. He still has that battling spirit and has just ­beaten the toughest opponent he has ever faced – cancer.

The 53-year-old is back at work as an Everton Academy coach after surviving a bowel cancer scare last summer.

It’s a disease that can hit ­anyone and claimed the life of Daily Star chief sports-writer Brian Woolnough in ­September.

Sheedy’s world was turned upside down just before his second marriage in July, when unusual bowel movements prompted him to seek medical advice.

He said: “My bowel ­habits became irregular. I was on the toilet a lot more – my wife joked that it was costing us a fortune in toilet rolls!

“I had bleeding from my ­bottom and, after seeing and hearing ads about it, I decided to see my doctor.

“It was just before my ­honeymoon and I had some blood tests and a stool test that came back clear.

“The doctor then sent me for a camera test after my ­honeymoon and that is when they picked up on the cancer.